Posts Tagged ‘iPhone’

“Apple of My Eye” is a short film by Michael Koerbel that was created using only an iPhone 4, and within a 48 period. Even more amazing, is the fact that the post-production editing was done entirely on the iPhone 4 using the new iMovie app.

If nothing else, this short film itself sells me on the value and capabilities of the iPhone 4. Michael Koerbel’s impromptu creativity and expertise is well showcased in this film, even though there seems to be little plot or story to the film. The obvious purpose was to show that even with a small mobile device like the iPhone 4, an individual could still create superior quality films on non-traditional camera platforms.

iOS4, the latest version of the iPhone Operating System has finally been released to the public — for free.

After updating my iPhone 3GS’s firmware to the new iOS4, I immediately realized that as always, the new functionality isn’t really intuitive for most users.

So Here’s a Brief “How-To” Guide for iOS4:

Device Compatibility

The new iOS 4 update will not work for the following devices:

Original iPhone

First 2 Generations of iPod Touch Devices

iOS4 is verified to be compatible with:

iPhone 3G

iPhone 3GS

2009 iPod Touch (3rd-generation)

iPhone 4

Multi-Tasking

The availability of this feature is only for iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 devices. Simply double tap your home button while running a program, and the screen slide upward to reveal your “task manager” style menu. This allows you to quickly switch between programs. You can swipe on these icons to scroll rightwards through all of the open applications four at a time, tapping to switch between them, or holding down on any one of them to bring up red circles that stop the selected application immediately.

Application Folders

Simply drag and drop an application into another application, and iOS4 will automatically create an application folder. You can rename the folder to your preferences and add additional applications into the folder as you wish. Folders can be moved much like an individual application can.

Mail Updates

iOS4 includes the addition of a “All Inboxes” folder, as well as the separation of “Inboxes” verses “Accounts.” Apple calls it the “unified inbox,” the aggregation of multiple email account inboxes into a single scrolling list that’s also described as “All Inboxes,” removing your need to check separate accounts by tapping multiple times and flipping from inbox to inbox. Messages are now threaded, similarly to how Gmail handles threaded “email conversations.” You can turn off the threaded email feature by going to SETTINGS < MAIL, CONTACTS, CALENDAR < ORGANIZE BY THREAD.

iPhone Wallpaper

Your wallpaper is now visible behind your icons. You can change this by going to SETTINGS < WALLPAPER.

Internet Tethering

Cellular Data

This may have been an existing setting, but I don’t remember it, so I’ll mention it. If you go to SETTINGS < NETWORK < CELLULAR DATA, it appears that you can have some control over when your phone is allowed to access data via AT&T’s DATA network.

On June 21, 2010, Apple will be releasing the long awaited iOS 4 iPhone operating system.

Lawrence Ingraham, Wayne Sutton, and the rest of the TriOut Team has been testing their current version of TriOut on the new iOS 4, and are reporting successful testing results. But the big news is that TriOut will be releasing a “big upgrade,” version 2 of TriOut.

TriOut version 2 won’t be ready for the iOS launch, we plan to have it shipping shortly after near the end of July. Why the wait? It’s a completely new app, no code will be reused. We’ve changed a lot since the first 1.0 release and it’s time for a clean slate.

So what can you expect to see in version 2?

Reports indicate that the interface has been re-designed for increased usability. Take a look at their html5 app http://mobile.trioutnc.com for a good idea how it’ll look.

Special Thanks!

I think I speak for all TriOut users, as I say “THANK YOU” to the entire TriOut Team, for their hard work and dedication to the TriOut Community.

We all appreciate the long nights spent in front of dimly lit computer screens, and stressful ventures around town testing the application like the “Can you hear me now” Verizon guy (minus the silly outfit, right? lol).
*If you enjoyed this article, or even if you didn’t, please feel free to leave a comment below!

With the launch of the long-awaited iPhone 4 only a week away (June 24, 2010), the masses of existing and potential AT&T customers are wondering one simple thing — will AT&T’s network survive the impending tsunami of traffic and strain?

Like the embarrassing scenario Apple struggled with at this month’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), in which Steve Jobs had to ask members of the audience to turn off their wireless devices due to the lack of bandwidth available at the conference; will AT&T’s network face similar slow or non-existent data and call connections?

AT&T assures its customers that it is ready, but critics (including its own customers) seem doubtful in light of Tuesday’s fiasco involving the AT&T and Apple Web sites being overwhelmed by customers trying to pre-order the new iPhone 4. Customers received reoccurring error messages when attempting to access web sites, and those lucky enough to capture enough bandwidth to view web pages experienced long delays while trying to create or update their AT&T accounts.

Success Is Not Without A Cost

Just like with any other successful endeavor, success always carries a price. In AT&T’s case, the price was paid in the failure of it’s network to handle the exponentially increasing traffic. The Apple iPhone revolutionized the mobile phone industry because it was designed specifically for accessing the Net. It’s record-breaking popularity and ability to convert large numbers of new customers with every iPhone iteration, has created a tsunami of mobile data on the frail AT&T network, which has resulted in a some of the poorest rated service of any domestic mobile carrier.

AT&T Invests Billions Into Infrastructure

However, AT&T is pouring billions of dollars into its infrastructure in preparation for the surge of data traffic next week. They’ve increased their capital spending budget to between $18 billion and $19 billion for 2010 — approximately $2 billion more than in 2009. Included in their network upgrades are 2,000 new mobile cell towers, and three three times more fiber-optic links to their existing cell sites than in 2009.

Ultimately, AT&T will upgrade to a 4G technology called Long Term Evolution, or LTE. Testing of the technology will commence late in 2010, and with commercial deployments starting in 2011.

What AT&T’s Rivals Aren’t Saying

Meanwhile, AT&T’s rivals are definitely not sitting on their hands either. 4G wireless mobile service was introduced to consumers by Sprint/Nextel, and are offering phones optimized for the 4G network like the Google Android based HTC Evo. Verizon Wireless is frantically building its 4G network, and expanding its services to new markets in 2011. T-Mobile USA, the smallest of the major wireless providers, is also expanding into additional 25 markets by next year.

However, while these competitors claim to be more reliable, offer more coverage, and provide faster data speeds, the reality is that their claims are only based on networks with substantially less users and devices accessing them. There are a very limited number of devices that are capable of taking advantage of these advanced networks.

Sprint offers 4G via the HTC Evo

Verizon isn’t scheduled to release a 4G phone until mid-2011.

T-Mobile USA only offers data sticks for its HSPA+ network.

When comparing AT&T’s service to their competitors in today’s data-hungry smartphone market, it’s hardly a fair comparison. In fact, trying to compare the two would be like comparing rush hour traffic in L.A., CA to that of Raleigh, NC. There’s really no comparison, since the sheer number of cars in the Raleigh, NC area are an insignificant percentage of the traffic that commutes on L.A. freeways on a daily basis.

For example, T-Mobile has 5.2 million customers using 3G devices on its network, while AT&T has 15 million iPhone customers, not including all other 3G capable devices on the AT&T network.

“AT&T has been at the forefront of learning how wireless carriers deal with heavy data usage… They are really the pioneers. And if any other carrier had the kinds of traffic loads that AT&T has had to deal with as a result of the iPhone, then they would have the same problems. And for anyone to claim any different is crap.”

— Charles Golvin, a research analyst with Forrester Research

*If you enjoyed this article, or even if you didn’t, please feel free to leave a comment below!

Lauren and I decided to go for a quick ride last night that turned into for us, an epic 8.09 mile trek across southwestern Cary, NC. We started from the Kroger at the intersection of Hwy 64 and Lake Pine Drive, and biked through Picardy Pointe and the Highlands, where I grew up so many years ago.

Crossing over Cary Parkway, we ended up at Annie Jones Park and jumped onto the Greenway and rode behind AppleCross and Colonial Townes to Lake Pine Drive and Cary Parkway (Grocery Boy Jr.). We then headed up Cary Parkway till we hit Kildaire Farm Road, where we stopped in at Trader Joes for some snacks and had a small dinner at Subway.

Afterward, we headed back through the neighborhoods behind Kildaire and reconnected to Lake Pine and down to Camden Lake Apartments which border Apex Community Lake.

All in all, it was a very challenging ride for us, especially since we just started cycling two weeks ago. Lauren and I are definitely feeling a difference, and we’re excited to see where our travels takes us next!